Regional budget for 8/28/07

Monday

GateHouse News Service Regional Budget (8/28/07)
Here are the top Illinois stories coming today from GateHouse News Service. Stories are available at http://ghns.ghnewsroom.com
*Please check this Web site in the evening for changes to story lineup, including breaking news.
Contacts:
Regional Editor Jonie Larson, (217) 816-3343, jlarson@gatehousemedia.com
National Editor Jean Hodges, (630) 348-3350, jhodges@gatehousemedia.com

News

LAWSUIT: Blagojevich wants court to order Mike Madigan to enforce special sessions when the governor calls them. FINKE/CAPITOL BUREAU/this evening/Illinois

WRONG BUS, WHAT TO DO: (Good one to localize for your area) Kindergartner put on the wrong bus got himself home by walking up to stranger’s house and asking her to call mom. In general, what kids should do if they end up on the wrong bus and how often this happens. SHERMAN/SPRINGFIELD/this evening/Illinois News

RIVER LEVELS: The Illinois River is expected to peak Tuesday, while above what they thought but should be low enough to avoid damage. Will check with the weather service and downtown businesses to see what is happening. We hear some low areas in and around Chillicothe are already flooding. (merits; by 8 p.m.) KOCH/PEORIA/Illinois

PEABODY RULING: Peabody Energy Co. expects to have about 2,000 construction workers on the job by this time in 2009 after a federal court upheld company plans for a $2.5 billion power plant and energy campus in southern Illinois. Environmental groups are considering an appeal, however, claiming the decision has not resolved the issue of emissions that contribute to global warming. An early October groundbreaking is now planned for the Prairie State Energy Campus - a combination power plant and coal mine near Marissa - that would provide electricity throughout the Midwest. LANDIS/SPRINGFIELD/Illinois News

NICTI: State budget should mean commuter rail study goes forward. The Northern Illinois Commuter Transportation Initiative is waiting for $275,000 in state matching funds so it can spend $1 million in federal money to keep its study going. Planners hope to select a route for the commuter service by October, choosing between two Metra-style rail options and two "rapid bus" options. BONA/ROCKFORD/by 8 p.m./Illinois News

Sports

MIKE NADEL: The upcoming Cubs-Brewers series and the wild race in the NL Central highlight this week's Best of The Baldest Truth. NADEL/CHICAGO/moving early evening/Mike Nadel and Illinois Sports.

U of I NOTEBOOK: Illinois notebook column by John Supinie. Likely lead with football. Also include men's basketball, tennis, etc. Will move later in the evening following end of football practice at 7:30 p.m. SUPINIE/CHAMPAIGN/Illinois Sports

DAILY SOUTHTOWN
Please see Illinois Sports on the www.gatehousenewservice for offerings.

Opinions

EDITORIAL: It is difficult to write about a tragedy such as this, yet given the numbers of children who have died in hot cars, it seems even worse to stay silent. SPRINGFIELD/posted Saturday/Illinois Opinion